Laundry machine



Aug. 7, 1945.

J. B. KIRBY LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. BY 5M/55 5. K/@BY 49 M l l F2542 MW ATTORNEY.

Aug. 7, 1945. J. B. KIRBY 2,381,545

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENTOR. .ZEW/E5 5. /f/,ear

Y BY

Aug. 7, 1554-5. A J. B. KIRBY 2,381,545

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed NOV. 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. .I4/w55 5. K/,esr

W ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 7, 1945 Vum'rso STATES PATENT oi-ricsl LAUNDRY MACHINE trustee Application November 24, 1941, serial No. 4zn,z4z

(ci. isz-139) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to domestic laundry machines, and more particularly to an improved machine wherein washing, rinsing and extracting operations are performed in a single tub, and which includes novel time control mechanism for automatically starting and stopping the vari- -ous operations in proper sequence and at proper time intervals. This application constitutes a continuation in part of my copending applications, Serial No. 364,902, led November 8, 1940,

and Serial No. 377,693, iiled February 6, 1941.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a laundry machine having a single tub wherein washing, rinsing and lextracting operations may be lperformed upon a batch of clothing disposed therein, and including a new and improved timing mechanism for controlling said operations for predetermined periods of time and in a predetermined sequence. l

It is a still further object of my inventionv to provide a laundry machine having a power unit 'to effect a washing of the clothes in a basket, and thereafter centrifugally extract the water from the clothes in said basket, wherein the washing and extracting operations are controlled by a timer which is driven by the power unit and wherein the .force required to operate the clutches for the washing and extracting operations is transmitted directly to said clutches from the power unit without being carried through the timer itself.

;which a rotating member connected directly to the power unit is arranged alongside a series of timer discs and power transmitting links are adapted to be moved by the timer discs into the path of said rotating member so that the force of operating the clutches of the laundry machine is carried directly from the rotating member to the clutches lirough said links without being transmitted through the timer discs.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become vmore apparent and better understood after consideration has been given to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through laundry apparatus constructed according to my invention, taken generally onthe lineA l-I of Figure 2 and embodying a combined washing and extracting container;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line .2-2 of Figure 1 with parts thereofbroken away to illustrate the drive for the reciprocating mechanism for the combined washing and extracting container; l

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail of `a portion of the bottom of the container taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the water supply conduit through the hinge construction of the cover of the casing of the machine;

Figure 6 is a detail view of the crank arm for reciprocating the container.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of the valve construction controlling the ilow of water to the machine;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the timing and control mechanism illustrating its relative position With respect to the driving mechanism of the machine, with parts thereof omitted.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the timing and control mechanism, illustrating the cam discs thereof;

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are fragmentary detail views of the elements of the timing and control mechanism illustrating one set of cam discs in different operating positions;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational detail of the elements of the timing mechanism positioned asvshown in Figure 11;

Figure 14 isol sectional view taken on the line Il--ll of Figure 8; ,l

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on line lB-Ii of Figure 8;

Figure 16 is a plan view of the dial and indicating handle for the timing and control mechanism, and

Figure 17 is a fragmentary detail illustrating one. position of the actuating levers with respect to its associated cam disc.

With reference to the accompanying drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the present invention is directed to a laundry machine including a substantially rectangular casing I0 i suitably secured to and supported by the dependone side of the opening I6 are a pairof spaced hinge lugs |1 (see Figure 5), adapted to rotatably receive therebetween a hinge member I8 attached to a closure or iid 23 for the opening I6. The hinge member I8 is provided with a) duct I3 suitably closed at one vend by the hinge pin I 8, and is provided with hinge tube Ilb at the other end. Leading from the duct I3 and terminating in a downturned nozzle adjacent the central part of the opening I6 is a conduit 2| which serves to direct a spray of water into a container positioned within the shell I6.

For supplying water to the machine, one end of an intake conduit 22 may be connected to a. source of water supply, and the other end to the intake port of a control valve 23 (see Figure 7), which controls the flow of water to the spray nozzle projecting into the casing. 'I'he valve 23 includes a valve member 26 suitably mounted on the end of a valve stem 26, which is adapted to be actuated by the timing and control mechanism hereinafter described through the lever 26a and wire rod 261. In the conduit 24, there is provided a regulating needle valve 21 whichis manually controlled by an indicating lever 28 mounted on the 4side wall of the upper portion of the casing Ill, which lever has a dial 29 associated therewith. The valve 21 serves to regulate the volume of water flowing through the conduit 24 and to compensate for different pressures on the supply line so that when the valve 23 is opened for a predetermined time interval, a definite volume of water will be introduced into the container positioned within the casing.

The shell I6 is formed with a wall portion 30 which is substantially oval in cross-section, having an inwardly extending trough 3| formed on the lower edge thereof. The bottom 32 of the trough is downwardly inclined toward one side and terminates in an outlet 33, which may be connected by a conduit 34 to any suitable drain. The shell |6 is supported on angles 35 secured to the inner wall of the casing III.

Disposed within the shell I6 is a combined washing, rinsing and extracting container 36, which is generally spherical in contour having a flanged opening 31 in the top thereof, through which clothing and washing fluid are introduced into the container. Mounted on the lower inner surface of the container are suitable washing projections 33 against which the clothing is adapted to be rubbed and scrubbed during the washing operation. Extending throughthe wall of the container at the line of greatest diameter are a plurality of apertures 33 disposed in a ring about the container and through which fluid is adapted to be expelled from the container by centrifugal force upon rapid rotation of the container. The apertures 33 are normally sealed by a resilient band 40 mounted on the exterior surface of the container and maintained in position by angular members 4I. Circumferentially spaced springs 42 tighten the band to seal the openings until centrifugal force counteracts the spring tension and releases the iiuid through the openings 33. An inclined drip rim 43 secured to the outer surface of the container below the apertures 39 directs fluid flowing therefrom into the trough 3l.

The container 36 is secured to the upper surface of a plate 44 formed on the end of a drive shaft 46 rotatably mounted within a tubular housing 46. The lower end of the housing is supported by a yoke 41, the ends of which are pivotally connected to spaced bracket members 48 mounted on the base plate I2. Resilient pads 43 are disposed between the base of the bracket members 48 and base plate l2 to provide a resilient support for the housing 46. On the shaft between the upper end of the housing 46 and the lower surface of the plate 44 are positioned roller bearings 50 and a couplingV member 5I. For

facilitating the oscillating movement of the container, there is provided a plurality of coil'springs 62 extending radially from a ring `|53 encircling the upper end of the housing 46, to bracket members 64 secured to the inner walls of the casing I0. These springs serve to urge the return of the container at the end of each reciprocating stroke. Transverse springs 52 cooperate with springs 62 to maintain the container in equilibrium during the extracting operation.

The lower end of the drive shaft 45 extends below the housing 46 and has freely rotatable thereon a pulley wheel 65 which is maintained on the shaft by means of a thrust bearing 56 and a nut 51. Slidably splined to the shaft i5 between the pulley and the end of housing 46 is a drum 58 having a friction shoe 63 on the lower surface thereof and engageable with the face of the pulley 55. The drum 53 is normally urged into operative engagement with the pulley wheel 55 bymeans of a coil spring 60 encircling the shaft 46 between the hub of the drum 68 and the end of the shaft housing 46, to effect a driving connection between pulley 55 and shaft '5 for rotating the latter. The drum 58 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 6I having a friction shoe 62 secured to the lower surface thereof. A cylindrical member 63 encircling the drum 58 is formed with an inturned flange 64 against which the friction shoe 62 bears when it is desired to retard or stop the rotation of the shaft 46` and to disengage the shaft from the pulley 55. The member 63 which serves to move the drum 58 along the shaft 45 against the force of the spring is actuated by a disc 65 formed with a central sleeve 66 which encircles the lower end of the housing 46. The disc is supported on the lower ends of links 61 pivoted to the ends of the crank armsA 68 on the rod 63 which is journailed in a suitable bearing formed on the yoke 41. Rotative movement is imparted to the rod 63 by a lever 13 adapted to be actuated by a wire 1| leading from the timing and control mechanism to be hereinafter described.

For washing clothing, the container 36 is oscillated within the shell I6 by applying a reciprocating force to the upper end of the shaft 45 to rock or oscillate the shaft about its pivotal support. This movement is carried out by suitable driving mechanism 12 which through associated linkage serves to reciprocate the shaft 45 about the pivots 48. This driving mechanism (see Figure 1) comprises a casing 13 supported in a bracket 14 mounted on the base plate I2. Disposed within the casing 13 is a vertical drive shaft 15 which extends downwardly through the Wall of the casing and has mounted thereon a pulley wheel 16. The upper end of the shaft 15 carries a pinion 11 which is adapted to mesh with a gear wheel 16 freely rotatable on the lower end of a shaft 13. The upper surface of the gear wheel 18 is provided with a diametrically extending slot which is adapted to receive the opposite ends of a pin 3| extending diametrically through the lower end of the shaft 13. The gear wheel 18 is slidably in mesh with the pinion 11 and rotates continuously during the operation of the machine, and the shaft 19 is operatively connected to the gear assaut The yoke 82 isactuated by means of a rod 85 having a crank arm 85 on its outer end which is operatively connected to the timing mechanism by means of a wire 85. A spring 31 encircling the rod 8l normally urges the yoke 82 upwardly to engage the gear wheel and shaft 19. y

The shaft 19 is iournalled in an upwardly extending housing 88 formed integrally with the gear case 13.A bracket 89 extendingfrom the housing 88 to the .wall of the casing I0 serves to support the upper end of the housing 88. Formed on the upper end of the shaft 19 is a crank arm 90 which has associated therewith a universal coupling member 9|. QA connecting rod 92 extends between the coupling member 5| on the'.

shaft 45 and the coupling 9| on the crank 90. A spring 93 (Figure 6) extending transversely from the end of connecting rod 92 to the wall of the casing serves to urge the crank arm out of alignment with the shafts 19 and 45 to permit longitudinal free movement of the connecting rod 92. A- spring pressed pawl 94 (see Figure 4) mounted on the connecting rod 92 and engageable with a rack 95 formed on the lower surface of the plate 44 effects a step by step rotation of the container 38 during` the linear reciprocation v thereof. This rotative movement of the container changes the position of the clothing therein with respect to the path of reciprocation to insure that all of the clothing within the container may be uniformly washed.

".l'he pulley wheel 55 on the shaft 45 and the pulley wheel 18 ofthe reciprocating mechanism are operatively connected by means of a belt 96 to the driving pulley 91 mounted .on the lower end of the armature shaft of a motor 98. Motor 98 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 99 secured to the wall of the casing I0, and the belt 96 is tensioned by a spring |00 extending between the motor 98 and a bracket secured to the casing wall.

With reference to Figures 8 to 16, inclusive, there is illustrated timing mechanism for controlling the actuation of the Acontainer 38 within the shell I and the supply of water thereto through the valve 23. Journalled in the gear case 13 `(see Figure 1), is a shaft |0| having a worm wheel |02 attached to the inner end thereof and adapted to engage a worm |03 formed on the drive shaft 15. The outer end of the shaft 0| has connected thereto a rod |04 serving to connect worm |02 for driving the timing and control rection.

to rotatey a ratchet wheel ||5 on the shaft |I0, which is operatively connected to disc I8 having a single notch in the periphery thereof. Associated with the pawl I|8 for movement therewith is a second pawl ||1 which normally rides on the peripheral surface of the disc I|9 and is adapted to engage the teeth of a second ratchet wheel I I8 and rotate thesame the distance of one tooth upon each rotation of the disc I6.

Attached to the ratchet wheel ||8 for rotative movement therewith is another ratchet wheel I I9 with the teeth .thereof extending in a reverse di- Ratchet wheel I I5 and disc |I9 and ratchet wheels ||8 and |I9 rotate as pairs freely upon the shaft IIO, the driving connection therebetween being the pawl I I 1. Adjacent the ratchet v wheel I I9 is a disc |20 supporting a spring pressed pawl I2I' adapted to engage and be driven by the ratchet wheel ||9. 'Ihe disc |20 together with a group of cam disc elements |22, |23, |24, |25, |29 and |21 are keyed on a sleeve |28 to rotate as a unit about the shaft ||0. The drive through pawl |2| permits the set of discs fixed to sleeve |28 to be manually advanced through the operating cycle. The sleeve |28 extends through the bearing plates |05and has mounted thereon a sprocket'wheel |29. The sprocket wheel |29 by means of a chain |30 and a second sprocket |3|,

. is connected to theindicating lever |32 associated mechanism which is suitably supported between spaced bracket members |05. 0n one side of the bearing plates |05 are'formed aligned upstanding ears |05 between which is mounted an elongated actuating cam |08 which is adapted to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and supported at each end on stub shafts |01 and |01. The shaft |01* is connected by means of a threaded shank on the end of driving rod |04. Mounted on a shaft ||0 which is supported in the bearing plates with an indicating dial |33 (see Figure 16) mounted on the upper portion of the side wall of the casing I0. An appropriate ratio between the ratchet `members is employed so that the sleeve |28 and cam disc elements carried thereby are rotated by the mechanism' once in twenty-four minutes, which constitutes a complete cycle of operation, as indicated on the dial |33 of Figure 16. The cam disc elements |23 and |22 serve to control the starting and stopping of the mechanism for oscillating the container 36; discs |24 and |25 similarly control the mechanism f or rotating the container for extracting operations, and discs |26 and |21 control the operation of the valve 23 regulating the flow of water into the container. 'Ihe foregoing' pairs of control discs are substantially similar, differing only in the relative positions of the cam notches formed in the peripheries thereof. Furthermore, the sets of levers which are actuated by each pair of discs are similar and accordingly, for purposes of brevity and simplification, only one set of levers will be described herein.

In Figures 10, 11 and l2, there is disclosed the three positions of vthe levers actuated by any one pair of cam discs. With reference to these figures, the control levers comprise a toggle arm |34 pivotally mounted on a shaft |35 extending between the bearing plates |05. An elongated slot |36 through which extends a rod |31 supported between the bearing. plates |05 defines the extent of movement of the toggle arm |34. Pivoted to the toggle arm |34 as at |39 are a pair of arms |40 and |4I, which extend over' their associated control discs, and are connected to operate together by means of a spring |42. The arm |40 is provided with a nger |43 which normally rides on the peripheral surface of its associated .disc and drops within the notches formed therein as the discs are slowly rotated into position. Dise-like washers may be secured to each side of the cam -disc of greater diameter to form therewith a grooved peripheral surface for receiving and guiding the cam engaging fingers of the levers. The arm I4| is formed with a finger |44 which, when the finger |43 drops into a notch, is lowered into position to be engaged by the rotating cam shaft |08. The cam shaft |08, which is rotating in a counterclockwlSe direction pulls the arm |4| into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 11, and 5 moves theV toggle arm |34 from the position shown in Figure l0 to that shown in Figure 11.

As the link |4| is moved from the position shown in Figure to its dotted line position shown in Figure 11, the portion |43 on member |40 rides l0 up the cam surface out of the notch so as to raise the member to position shown in Figure The spring |42 then is eective to raise the end of the finger |44 out of the path of the rotating cam |08. The arms |40 and |4| are 15 normally urged into actuating position with respect to the timing disc and cam shaft |08 by means of a spring |45 extending from the arm |4| a-bout a spacer disc |46 on the shaft ||0, and anchored to a rod |41 extending between 20 the bearing plates |05. The spring |45 also serves to return the arms |40 and |4| to the position shown in rFigure 10, when the flnger |44 is disengaged from the cam shaft |08. When the toggle arm |34 is shifted into the posi- 25 tion illustrated in Figure 11, a pawl |48 pivotally mounted on a rod |49 is caused to engage a notch in the lower surface of the toggle arm |34, and maintain it in its extended position. Asso- K ciated with the pawl |48 is an arm |50 having 30 one end pivoted to the rod |49 extending between plates |05, and the other end formed with 9. nger 5| adapted to ride on and drop into notches formed in the periphery of a timing disc. The pawl |48 and arm |50 are operatively 35 connected together by means of a spring which maintains a pin |52 in engagement with the edge surface of arm |50. A tensioned Spring |53 extending between the arm |50 and the rod |41 serves to maintain the finger |5| in engage- 40 ment with the periphery of the disc |22. When the finger |5| drops in one of the notches of its associated disc |22, the arm rocks clockwise and through pin |52, the pawl |43 is disengaged from the toggle arm |34, permitting the toggle 45 arm to return to its initial position, as illustrated in Figure 12. The timing mechanism may be suitably enclosed within a housing |00 which is in turn supported in any suitable manner within the casing i0.

Mounted on the sleeve |28 is a cam element |54 controlling a segment arm |55 (see Figure 15 which actuates a three way rsnap switch |56. The switch |56 serves to open the electric circuit to the motor 98 upon the completion of a 55 cycle of operation of the machine. A manually operated three way toggle switch |51 on the wall of the casing below the dial |33 is interconnected with the switch |56 to control the motor circuit, so that after the circuit is manually closed by 60 switch |51, it may be automatically opened by switch |56. y

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be v made therein' without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as deilned in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A timer comprising a rotating driver element, a cam disc arranged adjacent said driver element, a clutch control, a link connected to said clutch control mounted to have one part thereof arranged to bear against the periphery of the cam disc and a second part thereof adapted to be brought into engagement with said driver, means to rotatesaid cam disc, said second part being brought into engagement with and moved by said driver in response to disc rotation whereby the clutch control is moved by said link and driver and theforce effecting such movement is not transmitted through said cam disc, means operable independently of the driver element and cam disc for holding the clutch control in moved position, and continued disc rotation effecting release of said holding means.

2. A timer comprising a rotating driver element, a cam disc arranged alongside of said driver element, a clutch control, a link connected to said clutch control mounted to have one part thereof bearing on the periphery of the c-am disc and a second part thereof adjacent said driver, means to rotate said cam disc, said second part being brought into engagement with and moved by said driver in response to disc rotation whereby the clutch control is moved by said driver and link independently of the disc, means operable independently of the driver element and cam disc for holding the clutch control in moved position, and continued disc rotation effecting release of said holding means.

3. A timing mechanism for a laundrymachine comprising a continuously rotated driver element, a plurality of cams mounted adjacent said driver, means to progressively advance said cams by driven rotation, a plurality of levers each mounted to bear against a different one of said cams, a portion of each lever being movable into and out of engagement with said driver by variations in cam contour, controls for said laundry machine operatively connected to said levers, means operable independently of the cams and driver element for holding the controls in actuated positions, and means operable by variations in cam contour for releasing the holding means.

4. A timing mechanism for controlling the various operations of a laundry machine comprising power means, operating levers adapted to be connected to the operating elements of the laundry machine, cam means for selectively connecting said levers to said power means to advance the lever to actuate the said operating element, means operable independently` of the cam means and power means for maintaining the lever in its advanced position, and cam means effective to release the lever and return it to its normal. position upon the expiration of a predetermined time interval.

5. 'Iiming mechanism for actuating in predetermined sequence and at predetermined intervals the control elements of a laundry machine comprising a driver element continuously rotating in one direction, a cam disc mounted on an axis parallel. to the axis of the driver element and rotatable in the opposite direction, a pivotally mounted lever operatively connected to one of the said control elements, a link serving to connect the lever to said driver element, means responsive to variations in cam contour for moving said link into and out of engagement with said driver element, means operable independently of said driver element and'cam disc for holding the control elements in actuated position, and continued rotation of said cam disc effecting release of its associated holding means by variation in cam contour.

6. Timing mechanism for actuating in predetermined sequence and at predetermined intervals the control elements of a laundry machine comprising a driver element continuously rotating in one Idirection, a cam disc mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of the driver element and rotatable in the opposite direction, means for connecting said cam disc to said driver element for rotating said cam at al reduced speed, a

pivotally mounted lever for actuating one of theY said control elements, a link member serving to connect the driver element to said lever to advance the latter, means responsive to variations in cam contour for moving said link into and out, of engagement with said driver element, means operable independently of said driver element and cam disc for holding the control element in actuated position, and means operable by continued rotation of the cam disc moving the holding means to an inoperative position.

'7. 'Iiming mechanism for actuating in predetermined sequence and at predetermined intervals the control elements of a laundry machine comprising a driver element continuously rotating in one direction, a cam disc mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of the driver element and rotatable inthe opposite direction, means for connecting said cam disc to said driver element for rotating said cam at a reduced speed, a pivotally mounted lever for actuating one of the said control elements, a link serving to connect the driver element to said lever to advance the latter, means responsive to variations in cam contour for moving said link into and out of engagement with said driver element, means operable independently of the driver element and cam disc for maintaining the leverrin its advanced position, and cam means effective to release the lever andreturn it to its normal position.

8. 'Timing mechanism for actuating in predetermined sequence and at predetermined intervals the control elements of a laundry machine comprising a driver element continuously rotating in one direction, al plurality of cam discs mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of the driver element and rotatable in the opposite direction, means for driving said cam discs as a unit from said driver element and at a reduced speed, pivotally mountedl levers operatively connected to the said controlelements, links serving to connect said driver element to said levers to advance the latter, means responsive to varia- .tions in cam contour Ifor moving said links into and out of engagement with, said driver element, and means independent of said cam discs and driver element for maintaining said levers in an advanced position. l v

9. A timer comprising a continuously rotatinl cam.,a rotating timer disc having a notch with an inclined side wall, apair of connected links overhanging said disc and cam. one of said links having a portion to bear on the disc to lower said pair as the disc is turned to lower said portion in said notch, the other of said links having a portion to engage said cam in said lowered position, the rotating movement of the cam in said last named position being effective to move said pair of links longitudinally andcause said rst named portion to ride up said inclined side wall and raise said second link out of the path of said cam.

means operable independently of the disc andcam for holding the second link in raised position, and said holding means having a portion engageable with a second notch in the disc permitting movement of the holding means to an inoperative position.

10. A timer comprising a moving power operated means, a power transmitting member, an indexing device to control the position of said member and move the same into the path of said means whereby said member is moved in one direction, and means to move said member out of the path of said iirst named means subsequent to said movement in one direction, and means operable independently of the power operated means and indexing device to hold said member out of the path of the power operated means for a predetermined period.

1l. A timer for automatically controlling the time during a cycle at which a controlled mechanism is actuated and the duration of such actuation, said timer comprising a rotatable driver element, a cam disc arranged adjacent the driver element, link means operatively connected to the controlled mechanism and adapted to engage the driver element, the link means including a part engaging the cam disc and movable by disc rotation to bring the link means into engagement with the driver element whereby thecontrolled mechanism will be actuated solely by power transmitted through the link means from the driver element, means independent ofthe driver element and cam disc engageable with the link means to hold the controlled mechanism in an actuated position, means operable .by the cam disc for disengaging the link means 'from the driver element while maintaining the controlled mechanism inl actuated position, and means operable by the cam disc f or moving the link engageable means to an inoperative position permitting the controlled mechanism to return to its non-actuated position. l

JAMES B. KIRBY. 

